7Brau Pale Ale vs Cigar City Invasion Pale Ale: Which Should You Drink?

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7Brau Pale Ale

7Brau

South Korea · American Pale Ale · 5% ABV

hopIQ rank #102

90%

Overall similarity

side by side, across 56 flavour tags

Cigar City Invasion Pale Ale

Cigar City Brewing

United States · American Pale Ale · 5.5% ABV

hopIQ take

7Brau Pale Ale if you want a lighter, more delicate touch,

Cigar City Invasion Pale Ale if you want something with more weight and staying power.

Both clock in at identical IBUs, so bitterness won't separate them—it's the half-percent ABV and how each brewery built their malt backbone that matters. 7Brau feels like it's designed to disappear on your palate; Cigar City's version is built to linger. Pick based on whether you're settling in for a long session or want something that commands attention.

At a glance

The differences that matter

Generated from the four anchored axes — never hand-written.

Structurally near-identical

Structurally these two are the same beer. The difference is in the aromatics. Sweetness and bitterness match within Δ 1. 7Brau Pale Ale runs a touch livelier in texture (Δ 4). Cigar City Invasion Pale Ale brings a distinct smooth-drinking note that 7Brau Pale Ale doesn't.

Beer DNA

Where they separate

7Brau Pale AleCigar City Invasion Pale Alegap between them

Body

Δ 3

lightfull

Both similarly built

Sweetness

Δ 1

drysweet

Both similarly balanced

Situations

When to choose which

Pick 7Brau Pale Ale when…

→You've had a few already and want something crisp
→You prefer delicate, nuanced hop expression
→You want sessionability without compromise

Pick Cigar City Invasion Pale Ale when…

→You want a more assertive, memorable APA
→You're opening a tab, not ordering a taster
→You prefer citrus-forward hop character

In words

Tasting notes

7Brau Pale Ale

HoppyCleanFloral

7Brau's Pale Ale tastes like they're respecting the space between the hops and the malt instead of crowding it. There's a clean, almost mineral quality to the finish that keeps it from feeling heavy despite being a proper APA. The hop character is there—floral, restrained—but it feels more like a suggestion than a shout. Perfect if you're tired of aggressive IPAs.

Cigar City Invasion Pale Ale

HoppyCitrusyClean

Cigar City's Invasion hits with more backbone. You can taste the extra half-percent ABV—it adds a slight warmth and roundness that makes this feel fuller in your mouth. The hops are bolder here, with a citrus-forward character that doesn't fade. It's built for people who want their pale ale to feel like an event, not a palate refresher.

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